GLOUCESTER HOLD BORDEAUX-BEGLES TO 36-36 DRAW

Gloucester Rugby drew 36-36 with Champions Cup holders Union Bordeaux-Begles at Kingsholm on Friday night. The match opened both teams’ 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup campaigns. Gloucester led 24-17 at half-time before Will Trenholm scored twice in the second half. Louis Bielle-Biarrey also scored two tries for Bordeaux, including one that levelled the match in the 62nd minute. Neither side found a winning score after that.

Martin Page-Relo opened the scoring for Bordeaux in the fourth minute, and Arthur Clark replied for Gloucester. Max Llewellyn then scored Gloucester’s second try, finding a gap in Bordeaux’s defensive line. Sipili Falatea crossed for the visitors before George Barton scored for Gloucester. Barton converted Gloucester’s three first-half tries to give the hosts their seven-point lead at the break. Pablo Uberti levelled for Bordeaux six minutes into the second half, before Trenholm’s two tries put Gloucester back in front.

Barton converted his first four kicks at goal, but his fifth conversion attempt struck the woodwork from near the touchline. Gloucester’s Will Joseph made several breaks in the first half. Gloucester had territory after Bielle-Biarrey’s equaliser but could not add to their score. George Skivington described Barton’s performance as “heroic” after the match. The result gave each side a draw in the opening round of the competition.